Cork schools set for showdown in last round of Harty Cup group games

Cork schools Gaelcholáiste Mhuire an Mhainistir Thuaidh and Midleton CBS are set for what could be a pivotal showdown in the final set of group fixtures in the TUS Dr Harty Cup.

The pair came out in the same section when the draw was made a fortnight ago and now the publication of the fixture-list by the provincial post-primary schools body, Munster PPS GAA, has thrown up a derby clash where qualification may be on the line for one or both of the Leeside outfits.

In the opening round on October, Midleton are up against the competition’s holders, St Joseph’s CBS of Nenagh, while Gaelcholáiste Mhuire take on Ardscoil Rís, who won the Dean Ryan Cup (U17AHC) last year.

Then, following the return to school after the October mid-term, ‘the AG’ clash with Nenagh while Midleton play Ardscoil before the Cork pair meet on Wednesday, November 18 in what will be a repeat of the 2024 Dean Ryan final.

CBC Cork will face John The Baptist CS from Hospital in their first outing, followed by Our Lady’s Secondary School of Templemore and then St Flannan’s College – the Ennis school were beaten in January’s final by Nenagh.

The other Cork side involved, St Colman’s College of Fermoy, will take on Castletroy College first, then Blackwater CS from Lismore in a local derby and finally St Joseph’s Secondary School from Tulla.

The eight sides advancing from the group stage will contest the quarter-finals immediately after the return to school following the Christmas break, with the four games scheduled for Wednesday, January 6. The four group winners will be seeded, with repeat pairings precluded from happening.

The semi-finals take place on Saturday, January 16 and the final is a fortnight later, on Saturday, January 30.

Meanwhile, there are six Cork schools involved in the Dean Ryan Cup – however, there will only be a maximum of four participating in the quarter-finals.

With 14 sides involved, Tipperary sides Cashel CS and Nenagh’s St Joseph’s CBS have received byes to the last eight, with the remaining 12 playing off for the other six spots.

Of those six ties, two are all-Cork affairs. As in the Harty, Gaelcholáiste Mhuire and Midleton CBS will meet each other while CBC are up against Coláiste Choilm of Ballincollig.

Bandon’s Hamilton High School have a first-round assignment against Ardscoil Rís while St Colman’s do battle with Castletroy College.

Those games take place on Wednesday, October 7, with the competition moving to Fridays thereafter. The quarter-finals are just before the mid-term break on October 23 while the semi-finals are on November 16 with the final scheduled for November 30.

DR HARTY CUP (CORK FIXTURES)

Wednesday, October 14:  Ardscoil Rís v Gaelcholáiste Mhuire an Mhainistir Thuaidh, St Joseph’s CBS Nenagh v Midleton CBS, CBC Cork v John The Baptist CS Hospital, St Colman's College Fermoy v Castletroy College.

Wednesday, November 4:  Midleton CBS v Ardscoil Rís, Gaelcholáiste Mhuire an Mhainistir Thuaidh v St Joseph’s CBS Nenagh, CBC Cork v Our Lady's Secondary School Templemore, St Colman's College Fermoy v Blackwater CS.

Wednesday, November 18:  Gaelcholáiste Mhuire an Mhainistir Thuaidh v Midleton CBS, CBC Cork v St Flannan's College Ennis, St Colman's College Fermoy v St Joseph’s Secondary School Tulla.

Wednesday, January 6:  Quarter-finals. 

Saturday, January 16:  Semi-finals. 

Saturday, January 30:  Final

DEAN RYAN CUP (Cork fixtures)

Wednesday, October 7:  First round - Hamilton HS v Ardscoil Rís, St Colman's v Castletroy, Gaelcholáiste Mhuire v Midleton, CBC Cork v Coláiste Choilm.

Friday, October 23:  Quarter-finals.

Friday, November 13: Semi-finals. 

Friday, November 27:  Final.